Taking the MAP? We can Help!
Overview
The Measures of Academic Progress (MAP) test is specifically designed to track the individual performance of a student academically. The test is renowned globally for highlighting the abilities that children are gifted with and determine a student’s readiness for the following semester. The tests are developed by the Northwest Evaluation Association. The MAP targets children from kindergarten to grade 12.
The test gives children a unique testing experience that is crucial for their academic levels and grade. The test pinpoints the weakest areas as well as areas that the child is strong. The test is useful in comparing students in groups in a classroom setting. Also, it can be used in the placement of children in programs that are special, such as the gifted and talented. There is no time limit, however, it generally takes an hour to complete the test. The test is mostly done at the beginning, during, and at the end of an academic year.
Content
The test covers four primary areas, for instance, math, language use, reading, and sometimes general sciences for particular grades. The test employs a number of questions, for instance, drag and drop answers, filling the blank spaces, and multiple-choice answers.
Every section contains a total of 52 questions. The test’s nature may lead to a variation of these questions.
Since it’s a computer adaptive test, it is level of difficulty changes based on the ability of the child throughout the test. Every test begins with a problem matching the grade level of the student. If a student answers a question correctly, the next one is more difficult than the previous one. However, if one answers a question wrongly, the question that follows becomes easier.
Test Sections
Every core section of the test has questions on relevant materials to the level of grade of the student:
- The reading section tests the knowledge of various writing types, abilities, and forms of analyzing paragraphs to draw main themes, concepts, and ideas correctly.
- Language usage section: designed to test a candidate’s grammar, spelling and vocabulary levels. At the end, there is an essay to further demonstrate skills in the use of language. Here, a child is expected to show a good understanding of structuring a story or an essay and how to present arguments.
- Math section: designed with questions that range from basic math to advanced. This depends on the child’s academic level and age group. Students are presented with questions on arithmetic operations, problem-solving, for instance, percentages and fractions, and definitions. Also, questions from graphs, geometry, and algebra.
- General Science: Some schools, include general science questions. The questions may cover areas such as life science, physical sciences, nature of science, scientific inquiry, and earth and space science.
Scoring
Scores for this test are reported by the use of the Rasch Unit (RIT) scale. This is a scale that measures performance at equal intervals, just like a calibrated ruler with inches. The scores are stable and cover all ages. Scores measure academic progress and growth from one year to the another. The RIT score indicates a student’s performance in the answers correctly submitted for 50% of the allocated time.
Scores are available immediately after the student finishes the test.
Parent receive one copy of a report, which includes final scores and related information on performance.
Eligibility
The test is used and designed to be used by students of all ages as it tracks their academic performance all through in general to improve education.